MAORI WELCOME

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 15, 3 November 1948, Page 5

MAORI WELCOME

Ceremony By Tuhoe People

A spontaneous welcome with all the pomp and ceremony of Maori tradition was extended to Dr. W. E. Petersen and Mrs Petersen when they visited the Tuhoe Maori people' at Ruatoki yesterday. Spectacular hakas and impressive action songs gave them what will probably be their only experience of Maori ceremonies and customs during their tour of the country. Maoris from all over the district gathered for the welcome, which also included the under secretary of Maori Affairs, Mr Ropiha, the representative of the Dairy Board, Mr A. T. Ward, and other Governjnent officials. The ceremony commenced with the challenge to enter the marae. Dr. Petersen was confronted by ! a challenging warrior who backed slowly into the pa as he advanced. This accompanied by a haka from lines of men and women drawn up in front of the meeting house. . Then Dr. Petersen and his wife were given the seats of honour for the welcome action song by the Tuhoe people and the children of the combined Ruatoki and Tawera

Schools. A new experience to them, both visitors appeared to enjoy it although obviously • intrigued by the unusual procedure. The welcome by the Maori people in the last action song was the most impressive. Even the hakas, which usually hold pride of place, were dimmed*by the harmonious singing of forty or more voices. Now commenced the part of the welcome dear to the Maori. Messrs T. Tamarau, W. Trainor and I. Pouwhare all assured the guests, in Maori, of their welcome to Ruatoki. Other speakers included the two chief school teachers of the district, Messrs O. A. Holyoake and C. K. Carpenter, and also, the Rev. Rea Rangi, who translated the speeches from Maori for the benefit of Dr. and Mrs Petersen.

Mr T. Ropiha replied in English and Maori, while Mr Ward expressed, his appreciation of the welcome. He said he was glad he was present because as a member of the Dairy Board, he was pleased to say that the Board was starting to help the Maori farmers. He then introduced Dr. Petersen. It was a reception that he and his wife would never forget, Dr. Petersen declared. "We had heard a lot about New Zealand in America and this is our first visit," he added. "We know about your world-famous Maori Battalion and '-are familiar with your fine representative in Hawaii, Dr. Peter Buck, Director of the Bishop Museum.

"For your welcome to my wife and myself I give you my thanks and to you all I wish the best of luck," Dr. Petersen concluded.

Following the welcome Dr. Petersen's film "No Hand Stripping" was screened. He then answered questions on various aspects of dairying generally. Before they left to see milking in progress on a Thornton farm, all the visitors were entertained to a dinner cooked in Maori style.

En route to Ruatoki in the morning Dr. Petersen inspected the Opouriao dairy factory. Today he is expected to leave Whakatane to continue his tour on down the East Coast. When he concludes lecturing in New Zealand he is proceeding to Australia and thence back home to the United States,